"Spanish government must act to end it now", Jeremy Corbyn and others speak out against police brutality in Catalonia

With 844 reported injuries in the Catalonia region as a result of violence committed by Spanish police against citizens who voted in the independence referendum, many have taken to Twitter to voice their grievances concerning the brutality of the national authorities.

The "illegal" referendum, whose results show that 90% of Catalonians favour independence from Spain led to a number of clashes, in which footage has revealed police acted aggressively in the face of peaceful protests. Wearing riot gear and seen to use their clubs, while reports have stated that rubber bullets were fired both to deter voters and in order to seize ballot boxes, this unconstitutional reaction by Spanish authorities has earned the national government considerable criticism.

Addressing the referendum and action of state police, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy stated, "At this point, I can tell you very clearly: Today a self-determination referendum in Catalonia didn't happen. We proved today that our state reacts with all its legal means against every provocation."

Rajoy's televised denial of the clashes in Catalonia has naturally drawn the ire of a number of high profile commentators, with Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn calling the scenes "shocking", before insisting, "The Spanish government must act to end it now."

Reaching out to Prime Minister Theresa May, Corbyn continued "I urge @theresa_may to appeal directly to Rajoy to end police violence in Catalonia & find political solution to this constitutional crisis."

Police violence against citizens in #Catalonia is shocking. The Spanish government must act to end it now.

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 1, 2017

I urge @Theresa_May to appeal directly to Rajoy to end police violence in Catalonia & find political solution to this constitutional crisis.

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 1, 2017

May, so far has failed to heed Corbyn's call and has held her silence on the matter. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office however, issued a statement, which said,

"The referendum is a matter for the Spanish government and people. We want to see Spanish law and the Spanish constitution respected and the rule of law upheld. Spain is a close ally and a good friend, whose strength and unity matters."

Labeling this "shamefully weak", First Minister of Scotland and SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon pointed out that "A true friend of Spain would tell them today's actions [sic] wrong and damaging."

Statement from @foreignoffice on #Catalonia is shamefully weak. A true friend of Spain would tell them today’s actions wrong and damaging. pic.twitter.com/bBnCmn5BWw

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 1, 2017

1/2 Increasingly concerned by images from #Catalonia. Regardless of views on independence, we should all condemn the scenes being witnessed

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 1, 2017

2/2 and call on Spain to change course before someone is seriously hurt. Let people vote peacefully.

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 1, 2017

While the Irish government has offered no comment on the unfolding events, Icelandic singer-songwriter Bjork shared her song, 'Declare Independence' in solidarity with the Catalonian voters:

for catalonia https://t.co/9GYPtNCiYk

— björk (@bjork) October 2, 2017